MANILA, Philippines – Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Wednesday said he is still on good terms with Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. after the latter called out his recent remarks on the Julian Felipe Reef.
“I have talked to SFA (Secretary of Foreign Affairs) and we are fine,” Roque said in a message when asked for a reaction on Locsin’s comments.
The DFA chief earlier insisted that he was the only one who can speak when it comes to foreign affairs.
“This is my last warning. When it comes to foreign affairs, the Department of Foreign Affairs has the exclusive remit. I don’t come from diplomacy; I come from a life that settled the hash of a lotta people who talked tough and ended up biting dirt. I don’t talk, I deal,” he tweeted.
He also urged his fellow government officials to lay off the issue on the West Philippine Sea and leave it to his department.
“What can we do? Let’s try this: drop the subject and leave it entirely to the Department of Foreign Affairs under ME, the only expert on the subject bar none. I’ve known China since 1967; Chito Sta. Romana along with me. Even the military has nothing to do with foreign affairs,” he said.
This is my last warning. When it comes to foreign affairs the Department of Foreign Affairs has the exclusive remit. I don’t come from diplomacy; I come from a life that settled the hash of a lotta people who talked tough and ended up biting dirt. I don’t talk, I deal.
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) May 11, 2021
What can we do? Let’s try this: drop the subject and leave it entirely to the Department of Foreign Affairs under ME, the only expert on the subject bar none. I’ve known China since 1967; Chito Sta. Ramona along with me. Even the military has nothing to do with foreign affairs. https://t.co/DOCNRuQ54W
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) May 11, 2021
Locsin made the comment after Roque claimed on Tuesday that the Philippines was “never in possession” of the Julian Felipe Reef, where Chinese vessels were spotted since March.
“All we’re saying is we were never in possession of that area and we’re making a big thing out of the fact that that area naman in the first place was never under our possession… ni hindi po iyan kabahagi ng ating EEZ (exclusive economic zone) iyong Julian Felipe. Labas po iyan, ganiyan po kalayo iyan,” he said during his regular press briefing.
In a statement he issued later, Roque stressed that the Philippines will not abandon its claims on the Julian Felipe Reef.
“Pero it doesn’t weaken anything kasi hindi naman natin gini-give-up iyong claim natin to Julian Felipe pursuant to Marcos appending Julian Felipe into the territory of the Philippines. That is our evidence of effective occupation,” he said. – RRD (with details from Correspondent Rosalie Coz)
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